Bob Westerdale

Sheffield Steelers are one game away from a League title.

If they win in Fife tomorrow, they will retain the Elite Championship.

Sheffield Steelers: House of Orange

Tonight they overcame a stubborn Nottingham side 4-3, after shipping in two goals in the last 15 minutes.

Defenceman Cullen Eddy gave Steelers a first period advantage tonight with a 19th minute goal against Nottingham Panthers.

Goaltender Marek Pinc had pulled off some excellent close-range saves as Panthers sought to wreck the party, with Sheffield in pole position to win the Elite League title.

Jeff Legue's line with Mathieu Roy and Conny Stromberg had threatened on occasion, Russ Moyer roamed forward to create an opportunity, but it looked like we were in for a barren first session.

Then Cullen threw the puck on net through traffic and it sneaked home past Shane Madalora, with 22 seconds left of the period.

The home fans went ballistic - and hoped that it would settle both their nerves and the team's.

Levi Nelson made it 2-0 with a shot from the left wing at 27;10 and the omens looked good.

And while Kevin Quick dragged one back with 11 seconds to go on a Nottingham Panthers Power Play, Sheffield were not to be denied.

Panthers

Two GB regulars Rob Dowd and Ben O'Connor stepped in and scored each to make it 4-1 at the second interval.

Steelers needed to defend in the last period, which they did, but still conceded two goals in eight minutes from Brad Moran and Geoff Waugh.

It led to an even bigger finger-nail chewing finale - but two regular time points were in the bag.

Afterwards Levi Nelson and Fredrik Vestberg said the sole focus on getting two points at Fife Flyers tomorrow. While Fitzgerald will have to sit out, they said the team wanted to move on and win the Play Offs afterwards.

Paul Thompson and Darrell Hay, architects of this season's Sheffield Steelers team